Work begins on Lakemoor municipal center along Route 120
Hard hats are on order for a ceremonial groundbreaking in the next few weeks, but work already has begun on what Lakemoor officials say is a big part of an ongoing campaign to rebrand the community.
The $6.2 million combined village hall and police facility along Route 120 east of Darrell Road is about a half mile from rented offices, but it's a world away from the sleepy, backward image community leaders have been trying to dispel.
“This solidifies our identity,” said Village Administrator David Alarcon. The single-story structure will be east of Darrell Road and north of Schlesser Drive in the Pines of Lakemoor subdivision. Lakemoor has a population of about 6,000 but is widespread geographically, straddling Lake and McHenry counties.
Among other actions, Lakemoor has worked with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning to update its long-range vision, changed its logo and has been aggressively touting its commitment to progress and economic development opportunities.
Though on hold because of a pending lawsuit regarding the creation of a special taxing district, the recent announcement of a 240,000-square-foot Woodman's grocery store and related improvement at routes 12 and 120 is an example of what village officials have been working toward.
“There's a rebranding effort. It's an exciting time to be here,” said Police Chief David Godlewski. “I think it's starting to work.”
Not many years ago, but before Godlewski's time, the department operated from a double-wide trailer on the shore of Lily Lake on Route 120. Until mid-2012, village offices were across the street in an old building built for a volunteer fire department.
“Everybody knows about the trailer,” Godlewski said. “This is going to be new territory for the Lakemoor Police Department.”
The department, which soon will have 10 full-time officers and 26 employees overall, in recent years has been housed in an out-of-the-way industrial building on Concrete Drive.
“You don't expect the police department to be where it is, that's for sure,” he said. “It's not only inconvenient for us, it's inconvenient for the citizens.”
The new facility will have “appropriate” space for everyday functions like roll call, evidence processing, lock-up and administrative offices, Godlewski said.
For nearly four years, village employees have been jammed into 2,500 square feet of rented office space as elected leaders considered options and ways to finance a new facility.
“When you work in large groups, sometimes it takes a while,” Alarcon said. “Plus, this is one of the largest projects the village has undertaken. Not only does it fit our needs, but can we afford it? That's why it was scaled down” from what was originally envisioned.
The village borrowed $4 million through a bond issue and will pay the rest with savings and general funds.
Site preparation has been underway for a few weeks with the construction and approval of a retention pond needed before foundation work begins. Completion is expected in February.
Matt Savage, a firefighter/paramedic with the Wauconda Fire District, grew up in the area and lives across the street from the center. He agreed the new building will be an image booster.
“They'll be able to run business as they should run business,” he said. “They're trying to get with the times.”